Electric clock mechanism



June 4, 1940. J ZUBEK I 2,203,18

nmcgmc CLOCK MECHANISM Filed Dec. 13, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,7 I I I 970k7z Zzzhek v INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

June 4, 1940-.

J. ZUBEK 2263 1 ELECTRIC CLOCK MECHANISM Filed Dec. 13, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 0 g ATTORNEY Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ELECTRIC CLOCK MECHANISM John Zubek, Detroit, Mich. ApplicationDecember 13, 1938, Serial No. 245,510

1 Claim.

The objects of this invention are to provide a novel means for drivingthe time train of a clock electrically, and to provide a specificallynovel structure for attaining that result, other objects being mademanifest as the description proceeds.

A mechanic who gives heed to what is claimed, may alter the precisestructure shown, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows in elevation, a device constructed in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation wherein the device is viewed edgewise;

Figs, 3, 4 and 5 are elevations showing difierent positions of theparts;

Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged from Fig. 2, parts having been removed; I

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 'I-l of Fig. 3.

Electro-magnets I are carried by a shelf 2, secured'to a support orplate 3, and an armature 4, hingedly mounted at 5 on the support,responds to the electro-magnets and overcomes the efiort of a pullspring 6, connected to the intermediate portion of the armature and to abracket 1 on the support, 2. depending rod or pawl 8 having its upperend pivoted at 9 to the armature, the rod being supplied adjacent to itslower end with a lateral lug Ill, the rod terminating in a reducedandinwardly inclined finger II.

A ratchet wheel [2 is secured to a shaft l4, journaled in the support 3,and forming part of the time train [5 of a clock. For convenience insetting forth the operation hereinafter, the ratch et wheel l2 may besaid to comprise a group of teeth a, b, c and d, and each tooth may besaid to include a radial shoulder l6 and an inclined edge H. The lug 10of the rod. 8 is adapted to engage under the shoulder l6 of any tooth ofthe ratchet wheel l2, the finger ll of the rod extending between theratchet wheel and the support 3, I

Three spring tongues, marked l8, l9 and 20, have their lower endssecured, by any appropriate means 2|, to the support 3. The tongue I8may be denominated a pawl-throw, the tongue 20 a first switch member,and the tongue [9 a second switch member. The tongue I8 terminates atits upper end in an outwardly inclined tip 22, and the tip merges intoan inwardly extended projection 23 on the tongue l8. The tongue H! isshorter than the tongue l8 and it carries an uninsulated switch point24, adapted to engage an insulated switch point 25 on the tongue 20, thetongue 20 being longer than the tongue l9 and shorter than the tongueI8.

The anchorage means 2| for the lower ends of the tongues I8, l9 and 20is in electrical engagement with the support 3, and to said means isjoined a conductor 26, connected to one side of a source 21 ofelectrical energy. To the opposite side of the source 21 is connected aconductor 28, wherein is interposed a switch 29, under the control of anoperator, the conductor 28 being joined to the winding 30 of theelectro-magnets I, the winding being connected to a conductor 3|, joinedto the insulated switch point 25 on the tongue 20. 1 i When the partsare arranged as shown in Fig. 3, the lug Ill on the rod 8 is below theshoulder of the tooth a. of the ratchet wheel l2, the switch points 24and 25- being in contact. Then there is established an energizingcircuit-for the electro-magnets Lincluding the source 21, the conductor28, the (closed) switch 29, the winding 30, the conductor 3|,theinsulated switch point 25 on the tongue 20, the switch point 24, the

tongue 59, the support 3, and the conductor 26: all of which will beunderstood when Fig. '3is compared with Fig. 1.

The circuit for the electro-magnets I thus being closed, theelectro-magnets are energized, the armature 4 is attracted, and the rod8is carried downward. Referring to Fig. 3, as the lug In on the rod 8moves downwardly, the lug is guided along the tip 22 of the tongue l8until the lug Ill slides downwardly along the inclined edge of the toothb, the rod 8 then being carried to'the left, and the tonguela beingcarried to the left as the lug ID on the rod 8 moves downwardly over theprojection 23 on the tongue l8.

As the rod 8 moves downwardly, a time arrives when the upper surface ofthe lug ID on the rod .8 is flush with the shoulder of the tooth b, and,'due to the thrusting action of the tongue l8 to the right, the rod 8 isswung to the right on its pivotal mounting 9, the lug I8 being carriedbeneath the shoulder of the tooth b, as in Fig. 4. When the rod 8 movesto the right, the finger H on the rod engages the tongue 20 and flexesthat tongue, the switch point 25 being spaced from the switch point 24,and the circuit of the electro-magnets I thus being opened.

When the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 4, there is no downwardelectro-magnetic drag on the armature 4, and the pull spring 6 gets inits work, the armature being swung upwardly on its hinged mounting 5,the rod 8 being raised, and the lug It! on the rod cooperating with theshoulder on the tooth b, to turn the ratchet wheel 12 one step, rotatethe shaft l4, and actuate the time train l5 accordingly.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that, upon the upward movement ofthe rod 8, the lug II) on the rod moves out of contact with the tip 22of the tongue l8, and the'tongue I8 is set free to assume its normalposition. The tongue 20, also, is permitted to assume its normalposition, because that tongue no longer is held to the right by thefinger ll of the rod 8. Although the restoring of the tongue 20 to anormal position is desirable, such an operation, in the absence of afeature to be described hereinafter, would engage the switch point withthe switch point 24, close the circuit of the electro-magnets I, andcause them to exert a downward pull on the armature 4, before theupwardly-acting spring 6 had accomplished all that is required of it. I

The aforesaid premature energizing of the magnet circuit is prevented,because, as the ratchet wheel l2 turns, the point of the tooth d engagesthe tongue l9 and flexes the said tongue to the left, as in Fig. 5, thuskeeping the switch points 24 and 25 spaced, notwithstanding the factthat the tongue 20 has swung back to the left, to its normal position.Ultimately, the point of the tooth d clears the upper end of the tongueis, the tongue l9 swings to the right in Fig. 5, the switch points 24and 25 are brought together, and the parts are restored to the positionof Fig. 3.

By the use of the device forming the subject matter of this application,the gearing of a clock can be reduced to a simple time train, comprisingno more than a few gear wheels and associated parts. The market has manystarting devices which, if desired, may be added to the structure hereinset forth, the special starting mechanism being something with which thepresent application is not concerned.

Although not confined to such a use, the device described (costing lessthan seventy-five cents in the present state of trade) can be combinedwith a dollar clock, from which most of the works have been removed, andthe result will be a good, electrically-operated timepiece.

The rod 8 functions as a pawl, the tip 22 as a guiding part for thepawl, and the spring 6 as a resilient means for actuating the pawl tocause the pawl to rotate the ratchet wheel l2. The spring tongue l8functions as a pawl-throw. The tongues l9 and 20 constitute anormallyclosed switch, whereof the tongue 20 is the first member and thetongue 19 the second member.

What is claimed is:

A driving mechanism comprising a circuit, an electro-magnet in thecircuit, a switch in the circuit and including first and second memberscooperating resiliently to close the circuit when in normal positions, arotatable ratchet wheel including teeth each having an inclined'edge anda shoulder, a resiliently-acting pawl-throw, an

armature responsive to the magnet, a pawl actuated by the armature tocause the pawl to move along the inclined edge of one tooth, displacethe pawl-throw from normal position, and render it active, thepawl-throw reacting to normal position and engaging the pawl with theshoulder of said tooth, the pawl cooperating with the first switchmember to displace it from normal position and open the circuit,resilient means for operating the pawl to cause it to.rotate the wheelwhilst the circuit is open, and to cause the pawl to free itself fromthe pawl-throw and permit the first switch member to return to normal,circuit-closing position, another tooth meanwhile engaging thesecond'switch member and holding the switch open when the first switchmember moves to normal, circuit closing position, thereby enabling theresilient means to complete its operation whilst the circuit is open,the rotation of the wheel causing said other tooth to clear the secondswitch member and permit it to return to normal position andtocircuit-closing 40;

relation with respect to the first switch member.

JOHN ZUBEK.

